A tense search operation is currently underway off the Florida coast for two fishermen who vanished after their boat was discovered running without anyone aboard. The men, identified as 57-year-old Randall Spivey and 33-year-old Brandon Billmaier, were reported missing when their families lost contact with them after their fishing trip on Friday.
The U.S. Coast Guard found the unmanned vessel approximately 70 miles off Fort Myers around 1:30 a.m. on Saturday. Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno provided details about the missing individuals and shared the urgency of the situation. “The two left early yesterday morning for a fishing trip,” he noted, highlighting their departure from a residence in Fort Myers.
Billmaier’s wife has been active on social media, sharing their story and photos in hopes of gleaning any information about their whereabouts. She described their intended return time as early Friday evening. When that time came and went with no word, concern grew among family and friends.
As the search developed overnight, the Coast Guard’s Southeast District mobilized both air and surface crews to cover the area. “Crews located their vessel running at full throttle,” said Riley Perkofski, a public affairs specialist with the Coast Guard. To prevent the boat from drifting further, a swimmer was deployed to manage the vessel’s anchor while crews launched a full search operation.
The situation underscores how dangerous the open waters can be and the quick advancement of a missing persons case. With Spivey standing at 6’1” and weighing 245 pounds, and Billmaier at 6’2” and 250 pounds, there is considerable weight of hope for their safe return as search efforts ramp up.
The U.S. Coast Guard has emphasized that other boaters and aircraft in the vicinity should exercise caution and avoid the search area, as any interference could complicate the ongoing rescue efforts. They are actively encouraging anyone who may have information about the men’s disappearance to reach out for assistance.
Families and friends are left anxiously awaiting updates while the search operation persists. With the boat found running, the mystery deepens about what may have transpired in those crucial moments before the vessel was located. The urgency of this developing story continues to unfold as search crews work tirelessly to locate Spivey and Billmaier.
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